Cell door operating and locking system



.NOV. 11, 1941. s, HART CELL DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l I MIQN Q Q R Q3 Q l m ETI H M M YL mm cum/M Nov. 11, 1941. H. s. HART CELL DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 11, 1941. H. s. HART VCELL noon OPERATING AND LOCKING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 2/ ggrwmvbom 1i dfzari NbV. 11, 1 s T CELL DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 25, 1940 4: Sheets-Sheet 4 i i 47 I 27 I I i 1 Z54 o l MssrE/r Lac/(155.341? 8 E fluxlLmxrLnc/(llvsfinx 6'8 E 1 i CONTROL Box Linn-.5 5WI7CHE5 IIBOYEDOGRS j Patented Nov. 11, 1941 CELL noon OPERATING AND LOCKING SYSTEM Herbert S. Hart, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Southern Prison Company, San Antonio, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application January 23, 1940, Serial No."315,271

' 11 Claims.

This invention relates to master control systems for cell doors and locks and, among other objects, aims to provide a greatly improved, simplified and effective locking and door operating system, including selector mechanism adapted to be used'in a prison or the like having a plurality of cell doors controlled from a master control box. One of the principal aims is to provide a system in which selective locking mechanism automatically engages an unlocked door with a master propelling member so that the door may be operated by the master propelling member and an auxiliary locking means for each of-the doors adapted to be operated separately from the main door locks and cooperating therewith to dead-lock the door locks, thereby preventing the' door looks from being operated by the master lock operating bar until after the auxiliary locks have been released from the doors. A 'still' further aim is to provide automatic signaling means in a master control box in which individual signals are energized upon the operationof the separate locks for the doors to indicate to a keeper or attendant which of the doors have been closed and locked closed. Also,

the invention provides an automatic master signal adapted to be arranged in. a wardens office and to be-energized only when all of the cell doors have'been closed, locked'and dead-locked, thereby assuring the warden that all prisoners are securely locked in their cells. Still another aim is toprovide in a mechanism of this type means to prevent the auxiliary locks for all of the doors from being operated until every door has previously been closed and locked closed, so that the keeper or attendant will know instantly, upon attempting to operate the auxiliary locks, whether-all of the doors are closed and locked, independently of the signaling mechanism.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig... l is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing locking and selector mechanism embodying the invention arranged over a sliding door;

Fig. 2v is a horizontal sectional view of the mechanism arranged over the door shown in Fig.

l, but omitting the usual master door propelling member for the sake of clarity;

Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig; 1, but showing the locking mechanism in a different position, the door being closed and dead-locked;

-. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view similar to iii Fig. 2, but showing the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3 and including the master door propelling bar;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view taken on" the line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 6, parts being omitted, to'show the mechanism for connecting an unlocked door to the master door propelling bar;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through a master control box of the ordinary type and showing simple levers for operating the mechanism;

Fig. '9 is a front view of the control box shown in Fig.8; and

Fig. 10 is a wiring used in the system.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention here shown is [applied to a cell system wherein a plurality of cells are arranged in a block or row and the cell doors are of the sliding type. The mechanism for looking a single cell door is shown as being housed within the usual cover box 2 I. As shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7, each door is carried by an ordinary hanger 22 extending through an elongated slot in the bottom of the cover box and secured to a door carriage 23 in the usual manner. Each door is adapted to be locked by a vertical locking bar 24 which engages a notched horizontal flange 25 on the door and the bar has a notch 26 (Fig. 6), which straddles the flange to release the door. In this instance, each door is adapted to be locked either in open position or in closed position, two separate notches being provided in the door flange 25. The locks and the doors are adapted to be operated 'by master operating members in the form of a master door operating bar 21 and a lock operating bar 28 extending the full length of the housing over the row of doors. It will be understood that these bars are adapted to be reciprocated or moved longitudinally by suitable mechanism arranged in a master control box hereinafter to be described.

In the present example, the locking bar 24 is adapted to be raised and lowered by an ordinary bell-crank 29 having one arm 30 pivotally connected to the upper end of the locking bar and the other arm 3| pivotally connected to a flanged link member 32, herein in the form of a horizontal angle bar. A rocker arm 33 is shown as being pivotally connected to the flanged link diagram of lamp signals erating bar.

locking bar enters the notch in the door 33 are shown as being mounted on separate pivot pins 34 and 35 which are secured to a plate 36 mounted on the back wall of the cover box, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The link member 32 carries a pair of pins 31 and 38 to which the I arms 3| and 33 are connected and an operating link 39 is also pivotally connected at its forward end to the pin 38.

adapted to drop into a notch lock operating bar 28. It will be understood that the bell-crank 29 The link 39 extends rear 1 wardly and carries a selector or locking-pin 40 4i inthe master has to be moved clockwise to raise the locking bar 24 to its unlocking position, as shown in Fig..

1, and it swings in the opposite direction to lower the locking barso that the notch in the flange 25, as shown in Fig. 3, as is usual in connection with such locks. To operate the bell-crank, it is only necessary to move the masterlock operating bar back and forth. If it is desired to index out a door or look so that the door may be locked open or locked closed while otherdoors and locks are being operated, it is only necessary that the pin 40 at the rear end of link 39 be lifted out of engagement with the notch 4| in the master lock operating bar. Then the master bar is free to move without imparting any movement to the operating link. In this instance,

the selector mechanism is connected to lift the pin out of engagement with the notch and comprises an index rocker 42, shown as being T- shaped and having a rearwardly extending arm which presents an elongated slot 43 engaging the pin 40. The length of the slot is such as to permit the master bar to move through the necessary distance to operate the lockingmechanism of the doors when the pin 40 is engaged with the master lock operatingbar.

-To prevent the doors from being indexed out I when they are unlocked, there is shown a flanged 1 index plate 44 on the back wall of the cover box having a vertical notch 45 into which the index pin 40 is adapted to be raised only after it is l moved to door locking position. A lower horibetween the end of which and the end of the other part or arm 54 is arranged a compression spring 51. The arm 54 rests against a stop shoulder 58, and a pin 59, carried by arm 54 having a horizontal slot 69 straddling the horizontal flange 6| of the parallel link member 32 is arranged to impart movement to the rocker arm and the plunger pin as the parallel link member. 32 swings to the door looking or unlocking'position, it being understood that the pin 60 is free to rotate relative to part 54 as this movement takes place. register with the space between the flanges 51 before it can be operated to' lock the door carriage to the master propelling bar. Ifit should happen to be out of line with the space or opening, due to wear, lost motion or other causes, it will be understood that the rocker 54 will collapse against the compression of the spring 51 and thereby prevent breakage.

When a door has been operated by the master propelling bar and is locked in either open or closed position, the plunger pin is moved down-.

wardly by the rocker due to clockwise movement imparted to the rocker as the parallel link member 32 is raised to itsuppermost or door' lockingposition. The plunger pin, when moved to its releasing position, is adapted to serve as asupplemental locking member for the door In this instance, an angle having a vertical flange 62 is mounted on the track 63 zontal flange 46 on the member 44 is arranged 1 just above the master lock operating bar and the 1 index pin 40 to prevent the index pin from being lifted out in any intermediate position. Thus, every door, which is indexed out or selected to remain locked, must belocked either in open 3 1 or in closed position. The pin is shown in such 1 aposition in Fig. 3, --the particular look over T which the mechanism is shown is dead-locked i in-door closing position. It will be noted also that the pin 40, when raised into the notch 45,

serves as a locking means for the operating link and positively prevents the linkage from being operated independently of the master lock op- To operate the index rocker or j bell-crank for each door, there is shown an index rod 41 connected to the upper end of an arm l 48 on the rocker, there being one such rod for 3 each door extending forwardly to the control Ibox.

Whenthe doors are unlocked, they are automatically..connected to be opened or closed bymeans of the master propelling bar 21. In this web horizontal and its flanges extending up on the back side of the carriage Wheels 64.' The front end of the flange 62 is adapted to serve as a stop for the lower end of the-plungerpin when a door is closed and locked (seethe-dotted position ofthe plunger pin in Fig. 7). The length of the flange 62 is such that the plunger pin will drop behind its rear end and also serve as an auxiliary look for the door carriage when the door is opened and locked open. I

The master propelling bar 21' is shown as being in the form of a channel member with its wardly. It is guided for reciprocatingmovement by a roller 65 mounted on a pin 66 carried by each door carriage. It is guided-laterally by strap or bracket members 61 straddling the vertical flanges, as best shown in Figs. 6 and '7,

and these strap members are also shown as being secured to the door carriages. They also prevent the plunger pins 49 from pushing the master propelling bar upwardly when they are operated and fail to register with the openings.

In accordance with this invention, there is pro- I vided an auxiliary lock for each door which also serves to dead-look the doors. To that end,-

there is shown an auxiliary lock operating bar 68- mounted in the cover box just. above the bottom.- This bar is adapted to be operated in the same manner as the master bars and is shown as being guided for reciprocating movement on the pins 34 and 35 over each door, having elongated slots '69 to permit the necessary movement. Also instance, a reciprocating pin 49 is shownas being mounted vertically on one side of the door mounted on each pin 35 there is shown an auxiliary locking link 10 extending rearwardly' along-' The plunger pin 49 must side the bar 68 to a point between the two pins 34 and 35 and this link carries a locking finger H at its rear end projecting downwardly through an opening in the bottom of the cover box to engage a slot 12 in the top flange of the door, as best shown in Fig. 3. There is only one such hole in the top of each door for this finger to engage, so that the door can be locked by the auxiliary lock only when it is in closed position. The rear end portion ofthe auxiliary locking link carries a horizontal pin 13 which projects through a cam slot 14 in the auxiliary lock operating bar 68. The cam slot extends rearwardly and downwardly so that when movement to the left is imparted to the bar, as shown in Fig. 1, the auxiliary locking link and its looking finger will be depressed and move to the auxiliary locking position, as shown in Fig. 3.

The auxiliary lock operating bar is also shown as carrying a block or stop member 15 (Figs. 3 and 6) on the lower face of its horizontal flange which stops above the locking bar 24 of each door when the bar is moved to the auxiliary locking position, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby making it impossible for a prisoner to move the door looking bar 24 upwardly. Also, it is impossible for a keeper or attendant to unlock the doors before the auxiliary lock operating bar is again moved to its unlocking position, as shown in Fig. 1. In

the unlocking position, the stop members 15 move out of the path of the door locking bars 24. The bar 68 has a notch 1501. cut in its horizontal flange which is in vertical registry with the bar 24 when the bar 68 is in unlocking position to permit the bar 24 to be raised to its unlocking position shown in Fig. 1. The auxiliary locking mechanism also serves to inform the keeper or attendant when any door is open or is unlocked, because he cannot move the auxiliary locking bar to its locked position unless all of the notches or openings I2 in the tops of the doors register with the auxiliary locking fingers and the locking'bars 24 are lowered to their locking position.

It will be understood that the master door propelling and lock operating bars may be operated at a central control box or station by any suitable mechanism such, for example, as a simple hand wheel and gearing shown in the patents to D. F. Youngblood No. 1,785,470, H. S. Hart et al., No. 1,836,661 and L. J. White Nos. 1,836,696,

1,836,697 and 1,836,698. In this instance, however, there is shown a simple type of lever mechanism for imparting the movements to the bars, for the sake of convenience. The master bars, auxiliary lock operating bar and selector rods extend forwardly to a control box 16 having the usual hinged door 11 and levers l8, l9 and 80 are shown as being connected to the door propelling bar, the door lock operating bar and the auxiliary lock operating bar, respectively, each lever having a suitable notched locking segment 8! to permit it to be moved through the desired distance. It will be noted that when the levers l8 and 80 are moved outwardly to door opening and unlocking positions, respectively, they will prevent the master control box door 11 frm being closed. The selector rods are shown as being connected to be operated by selector levers 82, links 83 and bellcranks 84, similar to those shown in a copending application of H. S. Hart et al., Ser. No. 315,270.

Also arranged in the control box 16 is a series of lamp signals 85, one for each door, and these signals are preferably in the form of jewel lights. They are also adapted. to be energized only when the respective doors are closed and locked. In

this instance, a switch '85 for each door is "arranged in the cover box adjacent to the lock operating mechanism and is adapted to be actu-' ated by a Z-shaped arm 81 secured to the slotted pin 59 which actuates the plunger 49 connecting the door carriage to the master propelling bar. It will be recalled that the slotted pin travels with the door carriage and, at the same time, is lifted by the parallel link member, 32 during the locking movement of the parallel inkage. When the door shown in Fig. 1 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the pin 59 and the arm 8'! will be moved tothe left to a position corresponding with that shown in Fig. 3, but

" the arm will not be raised until the door is locked by the parallel linkage, at which time the arm 81 will be raised to engage a spring switch arm 88 on the switch 86, closing the signal circuit,'as will be understood from the wiring dia-' gram in Fig. 10.

It is desirable that a warden or otherofiicer shall be informed when all cell doors are locked. closed and dead-locked overnight by the auxiliary locking mechanism. In this instance, a single lamp signal 89 is arranged at a suitable location in the wardens oflice and is adapted to be energized only when the auxiliary lock operating bar has been moved to its auxiliary locking position. It'will be recalled that this auxiliary 'bar cannot be moved to its locking position until all doors have been locked closed. Therefore, a'single switch 90 is arranged at a convenient place in the cover box and has a spring arm 9! adapted to be actuated by a'lug or block 92 on the auxiliary bar 63 so that the circuit through the wardens signal 89 is closed. It will be understood that the lamp signals :in

the control box may be arranged to be energized only when the doors are unlocked or open. Furthermore, the energized light signals in the are rangement shownmay be de-energized upon the energization of the wardens signal by using a duplex switch in place of the switch 90, as is well known in the electrical art.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved locking and operating mechanism is rugged in design and absolutely de-. pendable in operation. It is impossible for a keeper or attendant to leave any door unlocked or open when the auxiliary locking mechanism is operated to dead-lock the locked doors. He can determine instantly whether any doorr'emains unlocked by simply attemptingto operate the auxiliary lock operating lever. Also, he is apprised of the condition of the doors on inspection of the lamp signals in the control box. At the same time, the warden is informed by his lamp signal when all doors are locked and deadlocked by the auxiliary locking mechanism because his signal will not be operated until it is certain that every door is dead-locked, The mechanism is also capable of adjustment to prevent lost motion or expansion'and contraction from causing any breakage due to misalignment of operating parts.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the inven-- tion be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations. and sub-combinations.

What is claimed is: p i 1. In a cell door lockingand operating system of the class described, master door operating and Vidual' locks.

locking members; individual locks for the cell doors selectively connected to the locking member; auxiliary locksforsthe respective doors; a separate operating I member for the auxiliary locks; and means to prevent the auxiliary looks from being actuated to lock'any door until all doors .are closed and locked closed by said indi- 2. In a cell door locking and operating system of. the class described, master door operating and locking members; individual locks for the cell doors selectively connected-to the locking mem-jv ber; auxiliary locks for the respective doors; a separate operating member for the auxiliary locks; means to prevent the auxiliary looks from being actuated to lock any door until all doors are closed and locked closed by said-individual locks; and means on the auxiliary lock oper ating member cooperating with said individual locks to dead-lock them when the auxiliary lock operating member is moved to its locking position.

3. In a cell door locking and operating system;

of the class described, master door operating and locking members; individual locks for the cell doors selectively connectedto the locking member; auxiliary locks for the respective doors; a separate operating member for the auxiliary locks; means to prevent the auxiliary locks from being actuated to look any door until all doors are closedand locked closed by said individual locks; means on the auxiliary lock operating member cooperating with said individual locks to dead-lock them when the auxiliary lock operating member is moved to its locking position; i

and signal means operable by said auxiliary lock operating member connected to indicate when all doors are locked closed and dead-locked.

4. In a cell doorlocking and operating system of the class described, master door operating and locking members; individual locks for the cell doors selectively connected to the locking mem- 3 j ber; selector means connected to the lock oper ating mechanism to efifect the l tions with said master lock operating bar; auxiliary locks for the respective selective connec' doors; a separate operating member for, the auxiliary locks; and

means to prevent the auxiliary looks from being actuated to look any door until all doors are 1 closed and locked closed by said individual locks.

5. In a cell door locking and operating system sliding cell doors, a master door operating bar;

nections between the master lock operating bar and the respective locking bars; an auxiliary I lock operating bar; auxiliary locking members 1 forthe respective doors connected to be operated by said auxiliary lockoperating bar andv ;each having a member engaging azdoor only i when the door is in closed position; and means associated with said auxiliary lock operating bar to dead-lock the doors when the auxiliary j locks are moved to locking position.

.6. In a c elldoor locking and operating system means selectively the class described having a plurality of i a master lock operating bar; individual vertical 1 locking bars for the respective doors; means i selectively connecting the several lockingbars to i'the master lock operating bar; selector mechg anism connected to' control the operating conadapted to be moved into door propelling-engagement with the master door'propelling bar when any door is unlocked; auxiliary, locks for the doors, each including a locking finger and a slotted member in the door adapted to be engaged by the locking finger only when the door is closed; and an auxiliary lock operating bar connected to operate said auxiliary locks having means to prevent it from being moved to auxiliary locking position until all of the closed doors have been locked closed. 7

7. In a cell door locking and operating'system of the class described having a plurality of slid-' ingcell doors,.a master door propelling bar; a master lock operating bar; individual locking bars for the respective doors; means selectively connecting the individual locking bars to the master lock operating ,bar; selector mechanism.

connected to said means; automatic means adapted to be moved into door propelling engagement with the master door propelling bar when any door is unlocked; auxiliary locks 'for the doorseach including a locking finger and a slotted member'in the door adapted to be engaged by the locking finger only when the door is closed; an auxiliary lock operating bar; and means in saidauxiliary lock operating bar acting as a stop to prevent the individual locking bars. from being raised when the auxiliary lock operating bar is in its locking position.

8. In a cell door locking and; operating system of the class described having a plurality of sliding cell doors, master door operating and lock operating members; individual locking bars for the respective doors; means selectively connectingthe individual locking bars to the master lock operating member; selector mechanism connected to said means; automatic mechanism connected to effect operating connections between unlocked doors and the master door propelling member; a master control box; operating means in the master control box for the master members and said selector mechanism; auxiliary locksfor each of the doors; a separate auxiliary lock operating member connected to said auxiliary locks and adapted to be actuated from the control box; and means to prevent the auxiliary looks from being actuated until all doors are locked closed.

9. In a cell-door locking and operating system of the class described having a plurality of cell doors, master door operating and locking members; individual locks for the cell doors selectively connected to the locking member; selector mechanism connected to efiect the connections between the locks and said locking member; auxiliary locks for the respective doors; a separate operating member for theauxiliary locks; means to prevent the auxiliary locks from being actuated to look any door until all doors are closed and locked closed by said individual locks; means on the auxiliary lock operating member cooperating with said individual locks to deadlock them when the auxiliary lock operating member is moved to its locking position; a master control box; and means therein.

rality of cell doors, individual main locks for the 'doors; a single manually operable member connected to operate the main locks; auxiliary locks for the respective doors; a separate single operating'member for all of the auxiliary locks; and means connected to prevent the auxiliary to operate said severalmembers and said selector means arranged locks from being moved to their locking position until all doors are locked closed by the main locks.

11. In a cell door locking system having a plurality of cell doors, individual main locks for the doors; a single manually operable member connected to operate the main locks; auxiliary locks for the respective doors; a separate, single operating means for all of the auxiliary locks; and means associated with said individual locks to prevent the auxiliary lock for any door from 5 being moved to its locking position until the door is locked closed by its main lock.

HERBERT S. HART. 

